This picture (below) on its own, would perhaps confuse you. But the blur and the speed have a story. This is nine-year-old Samira Begum running for cover It was shot in Drahall area of Rajouri district - a hilly region, on the Indo Pak border, which has seen militancy at its peak. Elections in Jammu and Kashmir had brought us here. The moment I took off my camera to click Samira, standing on the edge of the road, she sprinted without notice. Clutching to her purple cloth bag, she ran for her life. Little Samira mistook my camera for a revolver. Rounds of laughter later, Samira was convinced that we were not out to literally shoot her. She screened her photographs and finally smiled. The psyche of fear runs deep here, I remembered. Last year, in Kulali village in the neighbouring district of Poonch, we spotted a deserted road and a young boy...

When the phone rings at 2 am, you know its not good news. Rather, for journalists it is always big news. On Wednesday night, this was a false alarm. A gun shot was heard somewhere in the dark, accidentally fired by a village defence committee member on the outskirts of Jammu. The alarm settled, it was still an edgy night. A day before infiltration had taken place on the Kanachak International border and an attack was being apprehended. At times, terror too has a pattern. Four-and-half hours later, it had struck. Militants had traveled in an auto rickshaw and four people had already been shot. Sketchy reports came in that men in khaki uniform had entered a residential area. An Army jawan positioned outside the house where the gunbattle took place As per the laws of television journalism, the rush had set in. When we reached Chinnore-the residential area-signs of a gun battle were all over....

For travellers on the road, a drive through the Jawahar Tunnel on the National Highway IA could well describe the divide between Jammu and Kashmir- at least geographically. The political,and the emotional differences run much deeper. The moment the 3kms dark tunnel enters into light, the breeze is cooler. The treacherous mountain road ends and drive down to the Valley of greens and yellows begins. But this time, tunnels and landscapes donot express the divide, instead a frenzy of voices on both sides do. Jammu and Kashmir pulled apart to the edge, with 800 kanals in between them. But as the agitations over Amaranth Land cross 40 day mark, the land row is left far behind. The fight now is for much more. For marchers on the streets of Jammu, the agitation is now about an identity. Their best chance to break free from the shadow of the Valley, and get noticed. The violent protests are about a lingering sense of Kashmir's domination....

Finally someone said it. " Journalists are also human beings". And it took the Dalai Lama to see it. In a crowded news-conference at his office in McLeodganj, the journalists cheered and smiled. Given that, I had already started thinking that his way was the evolved way. Someone who sees humaneness tucked inside curious-questioning- groping- newshounds had to be evolved. His ways of protest were also being quoted as "somewhat accomplished". Outside the temple in Mcleodganj, sombre-serene monks were on a hunger strike, chanting " Chang chup shem chok Ringche". A young Tibetan translated the mantra. "Compassion is the highest virtue and those who do not have a compassionate heart should be blessed with one". The chants were for the Chinese authorities. The monks believe that with their sombre humming miles away, China will see reason someday. Compassion will bring in a change of heart, and hopefully then, a change of strategies. Silently protest, carry torches, and wait for the dragon to see light. ...